SIMPSON SPOT ON BUT HASSOCKS ARE LEFT RUING MORE
Jack Simpson showed the fit-again Joel Harding that he has a battle on his hands to regain the Hassocks number one shirt as the 18-year-old’s first half penalty saved helped earn the Robins a 1-1 draw against Wick.
Harding was available to Dave John for the first time since undergoing emergency surgery on a terrible facial wound suffered while playing for Sussex against the Army five weeks ago. Hassocks’ long-standing number one had to settle for a place among the substitutes though as John kept faith with young Simpson, a decision that was richly vindicated following an excellent display of goalkeeping.
Simpson’s showing deserved a clean sheet and the three points that would have come with it. The Robins came within a minute of securing such a result, Clinton More’s equaliser for Wick not arriving until the clock showed 89 at the end of a thoroughly entertaining evening of football.
Hassocks made three changes from the weekend draw at Pagham. Dan Jacques and Anthony Hibbert both returned from minor injuries at the expense of Michael Bates and Sol Bowra while James Laing took over in attack from Nathan Miles who missed out on the matchday 16 altogether.
Both sides played some excellent stuff on a slick Beacon surface with Hassocks more than matching the slick passing of their renowned visitors. Had the Robins taken at least one of their numerous second half chances, then the game could have out of Wick’s reach before the dramatic conclusion.
Hassocks started brightly with Hibbert and Phil Gault both going close in the opening 10 minutes. Gault also steered another chance just wide after Stuart Faith’s flicked header presented a sight of goal.
George Gaskin had Wick’s only chance of the first half hour, firing wide after a rare foray forward from the visitors. Sam Jeremiah, a constant source of torment to the Wick defence all evening, chipped a delicate effort narrowly over from a Daley Clark lay back and then curled fractions wide as Hassocks were by far the better side.
That bright first half looked like it would count for nothing though on 40 minutes when Faith felled More in the box. The prolific Scott Murfin stepped up to take the resulting penalty but Simpson read the situation perfectly, getting down low to his left to keep out Murfin’s spot kick.
Hassocks looked to make the most of that in the first 20 minutes after the restart as they created countless opportunities. Jeremiah shot wide before Faith nodded in Hibbert’s free kick at the far post to give the hosts’ a deserved 54th minute lead.
Richard Thompson placed a gilt edged chance off target from 10 yards and another tantalising run from Jeremiah ended with him shooting just wide. Hibbert came even closer when he rattled Alex Bryant’s bar with a delightful chip from 25 yards which caught the Wick goalkeeper completely by surprise.
Bryant looked even more flabbergasted when Jeremiah tried his luck from further out, spotting the visitors’ custodian off his line and beating him from 35 yards. Unfortunately for Jeremiah, his effort was the wrong side of the post by a matter of inches. Jeremiah was again off target moments later with a screwed left foot effort after leaving Simon Clayton for dead.
Wick settled down for the final 15 minutes and once they got a hold of the ball, it was Hassocks’ turn to defend valiantly. James West shot wide and Simpson pulled off a brilliant save at full stretch to turn a Clayton free kick around the post.
Simpson then made an excellent block to deny More but there was nothing he could do when the same player levelled as the game entered stoppage time. The ball fell kindly to More in the box and he made no mistake with the opportunity, firing home from 12 yards.
It was a cruel end for Hassocks who had done well to weather the Wick storm late on. Given the chances that the Robins had, it should probably be viewed as two points dropped. John will no doubt prefer to look at the positives – his side matched one of the best footballing outfits in the County League for long periods, are another step closer to the 40 point mark and showed just how strong they are in the goalkeeping department.
Hassocks: Jack Simpson; Dan Jacques, Kieran O’Callaghan, Ashley Marsh, Stuart Faith, Richard Thompson; Daley Clark, Phil Gault, Anthony Hibbert; James Laing, Sam Jeremiah.
Subs: Sol Bowra, Neil Kane, Michael Bates, Arni Kublickas, Joel Harding (unused).
Starman: Jack Simpson made some great saves, especially the penalty but goes to Sam Jeremiah who was a constant menace to Wick and showed the Hassocks faithful just what he can do.
